A joint investigation by Weare and Deering police resulted in the confiscation of 57 weapons, drugs and cash from the home of a 76-year-old Derring man. Police said Robert (COURTESY)

76-year-old Deering man was selling drugs with his guns, police say

By PAT GROSSMITHNew Hampshire Union Leader

DEERING - A 76-year-old man is under arrest on drug charges after an eight-month undercover police investigation that resulted in the confiscation of $3,100 in cash, drugs and 57 firearms.

.Robert "Burton" Johnson of 162 Camp Road was arrested about 6 p.m. Wednesday at his home by members of Deering and Weare police departments...

Robert 'Burton' Johnson of 162 Camp Road was arrested about 6 p.m. Wednesday at his home by members of Deering and Weare police departments.

Weare police Sgt. Joseph F. Kelley said Johnson was selling firearms in conjunction with prescription pain medication out of his Deering home. He was arrested without incident...Investigators recovered 57 firearms, including handguns and rifles, seven containers of a variety of prescription pain medication as well as two boxes of pain medication patches in Johnson's home...Johnson was a license gun dealer in the 1990s, Kelley said, but currently did not have a license.."He was operating like a firearms dealer," Kelley said. "It's not everyday we run into this type of stuff. We took this very seriously."..Kelley said he does not know where Johnson got the guns, but the investigation is continuing. Johnson could be facing additional weapons charges...What's next: Johnson is being detained on $9,000 cash bail in the Valley Street jail in Manchester on three counts of sale of a narcotic. He is to be arraigned sometime Thursday in 6th Circuit Court, Hillsborough District Division...